Object-lifting device including means for metering objects from storage station to pickup station

ABSTRACT

A toy for separately and automatically raising individual toy balls from a first level to a higher level in order to produce kinetic energy in the, which includes a ball storage station and a ball pickup station, with means provided adjacent the pickup station for lifting the ball from the pickup station to a higher position in the device wherein it is discharged along an inclined ramp to produce kinetic energy therein. One or more individual balls are supplied to the storage station and a metering device is provided between the storage station and the pickup station for selectively permitting passage of individual balls from the storage station in response to the presence of a ball at the storage station and to the presence of the lifting means at the pickup station. Drums may be placed near the storage station and ramp exit so that balls may be fed to the former and from the latter by rebounding off the drums. A game may be played by players attempting to cause a ball to complete an entire path of travel. The lifting means may be an arm rotating in a vertical plane and driven by a suspended weight.

United States Patent [191 Ensmann et al.

[45] June 25, 1974 [75] Inventors: Burt Ensmann, Flushing; Henry Hinz,Huntington, L. I., both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 302,718

[52] U.S. C1 46/42, 46/43, 273/95 R, t 273/101 [5l] Int. CI A63h 29/08[58] Field of Search 46/43, 42, 40; 273/120 R, 273/109, 144 A, 95 R,101; l0/106.25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,195,927 8/1916 McCloyl0/106.25 1,295,504 2/1919 Howard et al 273/120 R 1,296,129 3/l9l9Siegel 273/120 R 1,452,835 4/1923 Goldman l 46/42 1,478,350 12/1923 Okel46/42 1,687,315 10/1928 Roche 46/43 1,870,586 8/1932 Platakls 46/422,391,529 l2/l945 Walker 46/43 2,400,013 5/1946 Lowell et a1 46/432,402,396 6/1946 Hagner 273/101 X 2,434,571 1/1948 Long 46/43 2,886,9095/1959 Hesse et al l0/l06.25 2,998,673 9/1961 Rhodes 46/43 3,782,7291/1974 Ernst 273/101 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 21,257 1909 GreatBritain 273/120 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Richard M. Rabin, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A toy for separately and automatically raising individualtoy balls from a first level to a higher level in order to producekinetic energy in the, which includes a ball storage station and a ballpickup station, with means provided adjacent the pickup station forlifting the ball from the pickup station to a higher position in thedevice wherein it is discharged along an inclined ramp to producekinetic energy therein. One or more individual balls are supplied to thestorage station and a metering device is provided between the storagestation and the pickup station for selectively permitting passage ofindividual balls from the storage station in response to the presence ofa ball at the storage station and to the presence of the lifting meansat the pickup station. Drums may be placed near the storage station andramp exit so that balls may be fed to the former and from the latter byrebounding off the drums. A game may be played by players attempting tocause a ball to complete an entire path of travel. The lifting means maybe an arm rotating in a vertical plane and driven by a suspended weight.

27 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUHZ 51074 SHED 5 0F 7OBJECT-LIFIING DEVICE INCLUDING MEANS FOR METERING OBJECTS FROM STORAGESTATION TO PICKUP STATION The present invention relates to a device forautomatically lifting toy balls and in particular to a lifting devicewhich is adapted to automatically raise individual toy balls from alower level to a higher level and to produce kinetic energy therein foruse in playing a game.

The lifting apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be utilizedin toys or toy games in which it is necessary to produce kinetic energyin a toy ball for use in playing the game. ln previously proposed toygames in which kinetic energy of a ball is required to play the game,the ball or balls are normally initially raised manually to an elevatedposition and thence discharged vertically downwardly, or along aninclined ramp, to produce the kinetic energy in the ball. Thus, thekinetic energy in the ball is only equal to that which is provided atthe initiation of the game, when the ball was placed in its highestposition, and it was not possible to increase the kinetic energy in theball, or to provide additional kinetic energy, during the course of theplay action without the interference of a human intermediary lifting theball to a higher position.

One suggested solution to this problem, which may be applicable, is theprovision of a separately powered motive means to drive a lifting devicein an intermediate portion of the game, thereby to raise the balls to ahigher position in order to produce additional kinetic energy. However,such motive means normally are in continuous operation and thereforewould run even in the absence of the presence of a ball to be lifted.This, of course, is undesirable since it is a waste of power during theintervals between movements of individual balls to the lifting device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to lift individualtoy balls from a iirst level to a higher level in response to thepresence of a ball at the lifting device. v

Yet another object of the present invention is to meter individual ballsat a lifting device thereby to present only a single ball to a liftingmember when the lifting member is in position to perform its liftingfunction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device whichis adapted to automatically raise individual toy balls and whichconverts the potential energy of a weighted object to potential energyin the toy balls, which are lifted from a first position to a higherposition under the influence of the weighted object.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a liftingdevice for toy balls which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture andproduce.

Yet another object of the present invention is to produce a device forlifting toy balls and producing kinetic energy therein, which device isrelatively simple in operation and durable in use.

ln accordance with one aspect of the present invention a device isprovided for separately and automatically raising individual balls froma first level to a higher level therein, in order to produce kineticenergy in the balls, while expending energy in the motive means used tolift the balls only during the lifting operation. ln one embodiment, thedevice includes a base on which a ball storage station and a ball pickupstation are located. The ball pickup station is at a first or lowerlevel in the device, adjacent the base, and adjacent a vertical supportmember mounted on the base and extending therefrom to a second higherlevel. A ball discharge ramp extends downwardly from that higher leveltowards the base to convert the potential energy of a ball lifted to thehigher level into kinetic energy as the ball rolls down the ramp.

Individual balls are lifted from the pickup station to the higher levelof the device by a transfer arm which Y is rotatably mountedintermediate its ends for rotation in a vertical plane on the verticalsupport member. The transfer arm has ball carriage members located atopposite ends thereof and positioned to pass through the pickup lstationof the device and adjacent the ramp at the higher level during rotation.

A metering device is located between the storage station and the pickupstation for selectively permitting passage of individual balls from thestorage station to the pickup station in response to the presence of aball at the storage station, in conjunction with the presence of one ofthe transfer arm carriage members at the pickup station, wherein it isin position to receive a ball passed from the storage station by themetering device.

The transfer arm is rotated to lift a ball in one of its carriagemembers from the pickup station to the higher level in the device by agravity operated drive means. The drive means normally biases thetransfer arm in rotation, however, means is provided at the pickupstation for preventing rotation of the transfer arm until a ball haspassed the metering device and entered the carriage member. Thus, bythis construction, when a ball is present at the storage stationadjacent the metering device, and a carriage member simultaneously islocated at the pickup station and held against rotation by the rotationpreventing means, the ball at the storage station will pass through themetering device to the pickup station and enter the carriage member.Thereupon, the transfer arm is released by the rotation preventing meansand rotated under the influence of the gravity drive member to lift theball from the pickup station to the higher level, wherein it isdischarged onto the discharge ramp of the device. The ball then rollsdown the ramp, converting its potential energy into kinetic energy foruse in playing the game in which the device is utilized.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a lifting device constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the use of the device inone type of ball game;

tering device immediately after the carriage member has reached thepickup station;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the metering device illustrating theconfiguration of the components thereof immediately prior to the arrivalof a carriage member at the pickup station;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing the configurationof the elements of the metering device immediately after a carriagemember arrives at the pickup station;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof,it will be seen that a' toy lifting device l0, constructed in accordancewith the present invention, is utilized in a game in which a series ofballs l2 are to be moved along a predetermined path of travel into areceptacle 14. In the illustrated game, balls 12 are initially startedalong their path of travel from a ramp (not shown) or by tossing, onto adrum 16 having a resilient top 18 on which balls l2 will bounce. Theseballs may be formed of plastic, rubber, or any convenient material;however, in the preferred embodiment of the game, balls l2 are formed ofnickel plated steel.

Preferably, a series of drums 16 can be arranged along a predeterminedpath of travel so that balls l2 will bounce from one drum to anotheralong the path. Ultimately, the kinetic energy of the balls decreasesbecause of energy losses due to bouncing and the like; therefore, toextend the play of the game, the kinetic energy of balls l2 must berestored or increased. Accordingly, device l0 is provided to interceptthe balls l2 along their path of travel and to raise them to an elevatedposition thereby to increase their potential energy and to convert thatenergy into kinetic energy for use in continuing the game.

As illustrated in FIG. l of the drawing, balls'l2 are received in afunnel or container 20 to begin their movement through lifting devicel0. From funnel 20, balls l2 pass through a storage station 22, and ametering device 24 which discharges individual balls to a ramp ortreadle 26 at a pickup station 28. Lifting device l0 also includes avertically extending support column or member 30 on which a transfer arm32 is rotatably mounted intermediate its ends. Transfer arm 32 has ballcarriage members 34 formed integrally therewith at the opposite freeends of the arm. These carriage members, as more fully describedhereinafter, are adapted to receive a ball l2 at pickup station 28 andto carry the ball to a higher elevation or platform 36 at the top ofcolumn 30.

As more fully described hereinafter, individual balls l2 are dischargedfrom storage station 22 by metering device 24 only in response to thepresence of a ball at the storage station and the simultaneous presenceof a carriage member 34 at pickup station 28.

Transfer arm 32 can be rotated in any convenient manner, but preferablyis rotated by a gravity actuated drive mechanism 38 which normallybiases arm 32 in rotation in a clockwise direction. However, rotation ofarm 32 is prevented at pickup station 28 by the cooperation of treadle26 and carriage member 34, in the absence of the presence of a ball atthe pickup station. In this manner, the expenditure of energy from drivemechanism 38 is avoided during those times in which no ball is presentat the pickup station.

Once a ball is lifted from pickup station 28 to platform 36, it isdischarged from the carriage member, due to the slightly inclinedconfiguration thereof, onto platform 36. That platform communicateswith, or forms part of, a ramp 39 along which balls l2 roll from theplatform. (Preferably ramp 39 is formed integrally with support 30 as aone-piece molded plastic structure.) As a result, the potential energyof a ball 12 is increased by lifting ofthe ball by arm 32 from pickupstation 28 to platform 36 and this potential energy is converted tokinetic energy as the ball rolls down ramp 39. This kinetic energy ofthe ball can thence be utilized to continue the game without theinterference of any human intermediary stopping the ball and lifting itto increase its potential energy.

ln the illustrative embodiment of the invention the ball l2 isdischarged from ramp 39 to a drum 16 from which the ball bounces to anadditional drum 'or drums (not shown) along a predeterminedpath oftravel, and ultimately into receptacle 14. As will be apparent, theobject of the illustrated game in which lifting device l0 is utilized isto place drums 16 and lifting device l0 along a predetermined path oftravel and to have one or more balls l2 traverse the course or pathdefined by the drums and lifting device from a starting point to bucket14. When the ball, or predetermined number of balls, complete an entirepath of travel and are contained in receptacle 14 the game is won.

In greater detail, lifting device 10 includes a base 40 having a raisedplatform section 42 formed integral therewith or secured thereto, whichdefines storage station 22. Receptacle or funnel 20 is mounted onplatfonn 42 inany convenient manner so that a ball 12 projected into thefunnel will pass through the neck 44 thereof onto upper surface 46 ofthe platform. This surface includes a recessed track 48 adapted toreceive and guide balls 12 from neck 44 to metering device 24. For thispurpose the lower surface of track 48 may be slightly inclined from neck44 of funnel l2 to metering device 24, so that the balls will rolltowards the metering device under the influence of gravity.

As mentioned, metering device 24 is adapted to meter or transferindividual balls from storage station 22 to pickup station 28 inresponse to the presence of a ball at the storage station adjacent themetering device. This is accomplished by the use of a pivoted meteringarm or gate 50, illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 2-4. Gate 50 ispivotally mounted on a baffle or cover plate 52 by a pivot pin S4 or thelike located intermediate the ends of the gate. Baffie plate 52 ismounted in any convenient manner on base 40, as for example by means ofa pair of projections 56 (see FIG. 3) received in recesses formed in thebase. Gate arm 50 and baffle plate 52 are located in predeterminedposition with respect to each other and to support platform 42, as willappear more fully hereinafter.

Gate 50 has an aperture 58 formed in one end thereof, see FIGS. 3-6, andis constructed so that its center of gravity is located to the right ofpivot 54 whereby the gate is normally biased by gravity to rotate in agenerally clockwise direction. Rotation in this direction is limited byengagement of the upper portion of tne top edge 60 of the arm with thereturn flange 62 of baffle 52. In this position (FIGS. 4 and 6) aperture58 is located in alignment with the track 48 of platform 42 so that aball in track 48 will pass through aperture 58. In the illustrativeembodiment of the invention, ap-

erture 58 is defined by a relatively wide peripheral wall 64, so that aball rolling from track 48 into aperture 58 will roll onto the base ofwall 64. The additional weight of the metal ball in aperture 58 willcause gate 50 to pivot from the upper position illustrated in FIGS. 4and 6 (and in dotted lines in FIG. 2) to a relatively horizontalposition illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 (and in phantom lines in FIG. 2).In this position aperture S8 is located in alignment with an aperture 66formed in baffle plate 52 by a cylindrical neck 68 formedtherein. As aresult, a ball 12 at storage station 22 is moved from track 48 intoaperture 66 and passes therefrom to the pickup station as describedhereinafter.

It is noted that gate 50 includes an upper rear wall portion 70, which,as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, will prevent passage of a ball l2 out of track48 when the gate 50 is in its horizontal position. Thus the gate isconstructed to permit only one ball at a time to be passed from storagestation 22 to pickup station 28.

Gate 50 is normally held in its horizontal position (FIGS. 3 and 5) by alatching mechanism 72. This mechanism also cooperates with carriagemembers 34, on transfer arm 32, to momentarily release gate 50 andpermit it to return to its inclined position (FIGS. 4 and 6), wherein aball l2 may pass through the aperture 58. Latch mechanism 72 includes avertically extending arm 74 which is pivotally mounted at 76 on base 40for rotation in a plane which extends generally perpendicular to gate50. Arm 74 includes a generally horizontally extending cam portion orarrowhead 78, seen most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, which extends abovethe right end 80 of gate 50. Preferably, ann 74 is constructed so thatits center of gravity is forward of pivot 76, so that the arm isnormally biased for rotation in the direction of arrowhead 78 under theinfluence of gravity. Arm 74 also includes a support platform 82 formedthereon and providing a support surface 82' which is adapted to engagethe lower surface 84 of gate S0 when the gate is in its horizontalposition.

At the beginning of the game latch arm 74 is initially manually rotatedaway from gate 50, i.e., it is rotated into the drawings, as seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, so as to disengage support surface 82' from the lowersurface 84 of gate 50, thus permitting the gate to rotate to itsinclined position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. This rotation of latcharm 74 away from gate 50 will also occurr automatically upon winding ofarm 32, as more fully described hereinafter. In addition, transfer arm32 is set in the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 4'so as toreceive a ball at the pickup station after it passes through themetering device. In this condition, when a ball l2 enters funnel 20, itpasses through neck 44 into the track 48 of platform 42 and thence intoaperture 58 of gate 50. As mentioned, because of the weight of the ballin aperture 58, gate 50 rotates in a generally counterclockwisedirection so as to permit ball l2 to pass through opening 66 in baffleplate 52 and from there to pickup station 28. As lever arm 50 thus movesto its horizontal position, latch arm 74 rotates forwardly, under theinfluence of gravity and due to the location of its center of gravity,to position support surface 82' beneath surface 84 of the gate arm.Thus, when ball l2 in aperture 58 passes therefrom into the aperture 66of baffle 52, gate 50 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction, due tothe location of its center of gravity. As this occurs, surface 84engages surface 82' and further rotation of the gate 50 is prevented. Asa result, gate 50 6 is maintained in its horizontal position preventingfurther discharge of balls l2 from storage station 22 be cause the wallof the gate blocks the end of track 48.

From aperture 66 in baffle 52, the ball 12 passes onto the end 86 of thepivoted treadle or ramp 26. This treadle is pivotally mounted between apair of posts 90, formed integrally with platform 40, along a pivot axis92 extending generally perpendicular to gate 50 and located so that thetreadle is adapted to pivot in substantially the same plane as the planeof rotation of transfer arm 32. The configuration of treadle 26 is suchthat its center of gravity is located to the left of pivot 92, asillustrated in FIGS. l and 2, so that the treadle is normally biased forrotation in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation is limited by aleg 94 formed at the end 86 of the treadle which leg thus maintains thetreadle in a relatively stable configuration with the upper surface 96thereof located at an incline between aperture 66 and pickup station 28.

Treadle 26 also includes an upstanding front baffle wall 98 whichprevents inadvertent discharge of a ball from aperture 66 off of thetreadle. Thus, wall 98 forms a capturing chamber or the like for ballsl2 passing through aperture 66 to insure that the balls are maintainedon the upper surface 96 of the treadle. In addition, treadle 26 isprovided with a recessed track 100 (FIGS. l and 7) which guides theballs in a straight line from the end 86 and wall 98 of the treadle tothe end of pickup station 28, i.e., adjacent the end 102 of the treadle.

Treadle 26, in addition to providing a portion of a path of travel forballs l2 between the metering mechanism 24 and pickup station 28,cooperates with ball carriage members 34, on the ends of transfer arm32, to prevent rotation of the transfer arm until such time as a ballhas passed through the metering device and has passed to the end 102 ofthe treadle. To accomplish this, carriage members 34 are provided withelongated fingers 104 which are adapted to be received in the slot oftreadle 26 when arm 32 is in a vertical configuration, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4. In addition, fingers 104 include an abutment surface 106on the lower side thereof which is adapted to engage the forward edge orabutment surface 108 of treadle 26 when the treadle is in its normalposition, illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. By thisconstruction, rotation of arm 32 in its nonnal clockwise direction underthe influence of the drive mechanism 38 is prevented by the engagementof abutment surfaces 106 and 108. However, when a ball l2 is dischargedfrom aperture 66 onto treadle 26, and rolls along track 100 towards theend 102 of the treadle, the weight of the ball overcomes the weight ofthe treadle and thus, as the ball approaches end 102, it causes treadle26 to rotate in a clockwise direction (into the configurationillustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 4), thereby moving abutment surface108 downwardly with respect to abutment surface 102. This causes ball I2to become engaged with finger 104 and permits drive mechanism 38 torotate the arm 32 in a clockwise direction.

As finger 104 lifts ball l2 upon rotation of arm 32, and moves away fromtreadle 26, the treadle returns to its solid line position, illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4, under the influence of gravity, and thus returnsabutment surface 108 to its normal position in the path of travel of thefingers 104 of the transfer arm. Thus, as the next finger 104 on arm 32approaches pickup station 28, its abutment surface 106 will engagesurface 108 to prevent continued rotation of the arm. Simultaneously,because the carriage members 34 are located at diametrically opposedends of the arm 32, the carriage member 34 with the previously picked upball l2 will deliver ball 12 at the upper end of support member 30 anddischarge it onto platform 36.

The configuration of carriage members 34 is such that the carriagemembers include an exterior curved wall 110 (FIG. 8) which will guidethe ball 12 into platform 36. It is noted that the ball 12 will move ofits own accord when arm member 32 reaches the top of support 30 becausethe ball will retain some momentum even though the arm 32 is stopped.Thus, that momentum will project the ball forwardly against wall 110 sothat it will be guided into platform 36 and from there to ramp 39.Accordingly, it is seen that the drive means used to rotate arm 32 isonly active during the time period in which a ball is transported fromthe pickup station to the platform 36.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, it is noted that afterthe engagement of surfaces 106 and 108 is released, so that arm 32rotates in a clockwise direction, gate 50 and treadle 26 are in theirsolid line positions illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, no ball at the storagestation 22 can pass through the metering device to the treadle. ln orderto release gate 50 to permit the next ball to pass to the pickupstation, carriage members 34 are provided with cam members 112 on thesurfaces 114 thereof which cooperate with arrowhead 78 of latch arm 74.As seen in FIGS. 5-7, cam members 112 are generally T-shaped memberswhose stern portions 116 are directed towards metering mechanism 24 andthus towards latch arm 74. Arrowhead 78 of latch arm 74 is constructedso as to project (FIG. 7) into the path of travel of cam stem 116 ascarriage member 34 passes through pickup station 28. Thus, the free edge118 of T-shaped cam member 112 engages the forward inclined surface 120of arrowhead 78 and causes latch arm 74 to pivot rearwardly to thedotted line position thereof` shown in FIG. 7. lt is noted that stem 116is located on surface, 114 in a predetermined position so that thismovement of arm 74 occurs just prior to engagement of abutment surfaces106 and 108. In this position, support surface 82' is disengaged fromthe lower surface 84 of gate 50 so that the gate moves to its inclinedposition illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. Thus, the device is in positionto permit another ball 12 to pass through the metering mechanism and beraised by transfer arm 32.

lt is noted that the rearward rotation of arm 74 is limited by theprovision of an upstanding post 122 on base 40- and a rearwardlyextending arm 124 cooperating therewith and extending from arm 74. Post122 and arm 124 are located so that the center of gravity of arm 74,even in its tilted position, is forwardly of pivot points 76. Thus, assoon as stem 116 of cam member 112 passes point 126 of arrowhead 78, arm74 will tend to rotate forwardly to position its support surface 82beneath the lower surface 84 of gate 50. However, if no ball is presentat storage station 22, gate 50 will remain in its inclined position,illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing, and forward rotation of arm 74will be prevented by an abutment member 127 formed on gate 50, whichengages the protr`usion 82 on arm 74 that defines support surface 82'.This prevents protrusion 82 from moving over the top of gate 50 whereinit would prevent movement of the gate to its horizontal position.

Accordingly, it is seen that with gate 50 in this position, when a ball12 arrives at storage station 22 it can enter aperture 58 of gate 50.This causes the gate to pivot to its relatively horizontal position. Atthat position, arm 74 is free to rotate forwardly, under the influenceof gravity, so as to position its support surface 82 beneath surface 84of gate 50, thereby to support the gate in its horizontal position. Inthat position the gate 50 will block movement of any other ball at thestorage station through the metering mechanism until the next carriagemember moves into pickup station 28. It is noted that this forwardrotation of arm 74 is limited by a vertically extending post 129 whichengages an extension 129' on arm 74 when the arm is in the properposition to support gate 50, as seen in FIG. 5.

Carriage members 34, illustrated most clearly in FIGS. l, 7 and 8, are,in the preferred 4embodiment of the invention, formed integrally withtransfer arm 32. These carriage members include a base 130 which ispartially surrounded by a peripheral wall 110. Thus, as arm 32 rotatesupwardly, after receiving a ball 12 at pickup station 28, the ball restsagainst the back 132 (FIG. 4) of finger 104 and against the free end 134of arm 32. As arm 32 continues in rotation, so that the ball 12 islifted more than halfway towards platform 36, the ball 12 rolls downslightly along the rear portion 132 of finger 104 and engages platform130 upon which the ball rests until the arm 32 comes to a stop in itsvertical position, with carriage member 34 adjacent platform 36.

As mentioned, transfer arm 32 is normally biased for rotation by agravity actuated drive mechanism 38. This drive mechanism includes aweighted object, such as a ball 136, which is connected to one end of aflexible cable, string or the like 138. The ball 136 is formed withsufficient weight to effect rotation of arm 32 as described hereinafter.The opposite end of cable 134 is secured to an arbor which is formedintegrally with transfer arm 32, along the axis of rotation of the arm.The interior of the arbor is pivotally mounted on vertical support 30,in any convenient manner, so that both arm 32 and the arbor arerotatably mounted on the support member. ln addition, a pulley 142 isfreely rotatably mounted at the upper end of vertical support 30, withcable 138 being guided thereover between arbor 140 and ball 136.

By this construction arm 32 may be manually rotated in acounterclockwise direction so as to wind cable 138 on arbor 140 andthereby lift ball 136 to a position adjacent pulley 142. Thereafter,during operation of the device, weighted ball 136, through cable 138,biases arbor 140, and thus transfer arm 32, in rotation in a clockwisedirection, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, when a carriage member34 is released at pickup station 28, due to the presence there of a Iball 12, weighted ball 136 will move downwardly under the inluence ofgravity, thereby reducing its potential energy and utilizing the same torotate arm 32. When a ball 12 picked up at station 28 reaches platform36, ann 32 is stopped, as described above, and downward movement of ball136 is also stopped. Thereafter, ball 13 is discharged through platform36 to ramp 39 to convert the increased potential energy of ball 12 intokinetic energy. Accordingly, it is seen that by this drive mechanism thepotential energy of the ball 136 is converted into potential energy ofthe ball 12 which in turn is immediately converted into kinetic energy.Moreover, the potential energy of ball 136 is only expended during thetime period taken to lift a ball 12 from pickup station 28 to a positionadjacent platform 36.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 8, platform 36 includes an inclinedramp 144 having a peripheral side wall 148 formed integrally therewith.Platform 144 extends from a position above ramp 39 and is located to beadjacent base 130 of a carriage member 34, when the carriage member isat the top of support 30. In this manner a ball 12 in carriage member 34will be guided from the carriage member by wall 110 onto ramp 144 andalong the curved ramp 146 by wall 148 to a discharge end 150. Thisdischarge end is located adjacent a horizontal ramp section 152 which isformed as a continuation portion of inclined ramp 39. This horizontalsection 152 of ramp 39 is located a sufficient distance below thecentral portion of ramp 144 so that a ball l2 may pass freely from thehorizontal section 152 to the inclined section of ramp 39. In addition,platform 36 includes a central protrusion 154 above ramp 39 and adjacentramp 144, which protrusion cooperates with ramp 144 and wall 148 todefine an enclosed track for guiding balls l2.

In the sequence of operation and play of the game arm 32 is initiallyrotated manually in a counterclockwise direction to wind cable 138 onarbor 140, thereby raising ball 136 to its highest position. lnaddition, ann 74 may be rotated manually backwardly to permit gate 50 tomove into its inclined position, and arm 32 is adjusted so that one ofthe carriage members 34 is located at pickup station 28 with itsabutment surface 106 in engagement with the abutment surface 108 on thefront end of treadle 26. However, it is noted that if arm 74 is notmanually rotated bac kwardly in this manner prior to winding of arm 32in the counterclockwise direction, the winding movement of arm 32 willautomatically set arm 74. This occurs because as arm 32 is wound, one ofthe carriage members passes through pickup station 28 so that the freeedge 118 of its cam member 112 engages the forward inclined surface 120of arrowhead 78 and thus pivots latch arm 74 backwardly. This, ofcourse, permits gate 50 to move to its inclined position under theinfluence of its center of gravity. In any case, after arm 32 is woundand gate 50 is set, when a ball 12 enters funnel 20, it descends throughneck 44 of the funnel onto track 48 of platform 42 and into the aperture58 of metering gate 50. The presence of the ball in aperture 58 causesthe gate 50 to pivot counterclockwise into its horizontal position,wherein the ball passes from aperture 58 through aperture 66 in baffle52. Simultaneously arm 74 pivots forwardly so as to move its supportsurface 82 into engagement with surface 84 of the gate. At this pointball 12 rolls along inclined treadle 26 to the end 102 thereof whereinit rolls against the rear portion 132 of finger 104. As this occurs, theweight of the ball on the end 102 of treadle 26 causes the treadle topivot in a clockwise direction so as to move surface 108 of the treadleaway from the abutment surface 106 of finger 104. Accordingly, arm 32 isreleased so that ball 136 can move downwardly under the influence ofgravity, thereby causing arm 32 to rotate and lift ball 12 to platform36. Meanwhile, treadle 26 moves back to its solid line position shown inFIG. 3, due to the location of its center of gravity and gate 50 is heldin its horizontal position by latch arm 74 to prevent discharge of anyballs 12 at storage station 22. Thus, abutment surface 108 of thetreadle is placed back in the path of travel of abutment surface 106 ofcarriage member 34, so that when the empty carriage member at theopposite end of arm 32 enters pickup station 28, its abutment surface106 contacts surface 108 to prevent further rotation of arm 32.Simultaneously, as the carriage member enters the pickup station, stem116 of cam member 112 engages the forward portion 120 of arrowhead 78and pivots arm 74 rearwardly with respect to gate 50. As a result,protrusion 82 is moved rearwardly so that its surface 82' is disengagedfrom supporting engagement with the surface 84 of gate 50. As a result,the gate pivots in a clockwisedirection to its inclined position,illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 6, wherein the aperture 58thereof is located adjacent the end of track 48 so that a ball atstorage station 22 can pass therethrough to initiate the se quence ofoperation of the device. This sequence of operation will continue untilball 136 reaches base 40, or as long as individual balls l2 are presentat the storage station.

Accordingly, it is seen that a relatively simple and inexpensiveapparatus is provided for automatically lifting toy balls in a game,with individual balls being lifted from a first lower level to a higherlevel in response to the combined presence of a ball at the storagestation and a carriage member, used to lift the ball, at a pickupstation. Moreover, the energy used to lift the ball is expended onlyduring the actual lifting operation and is conserved during those timeperiods between the presence of the two required conditions.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for raising an object from a first level to a second higherlevel comprising, a base, a vertically extending support memberoperatively connected to said base, an arm, means rotatably mountingsaid arm on said base for rotational movement in a vertical planethrough at least one complete 360 arc, and means on said arm forengaging an object at said first level and retaining the object thereinduring rotational movement of said retaining means with said arm fromsaid first level adjacent the base to said second higher levelsubstantially diametrically opposite said first level, and meansresponsive to the presence of an object adjacent said first level forselectively rotating said arm through at least a portion of said 360 arcbetween said first and second levels, whereby said object is raised fromsaid first to said second level.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating meansresponsive to the presence of an object comprises a latch memberoperatively associated with said arm at said first level for normallypreventing rotation of said arm and being responsive to the presence ofan object at said first level to release said arm and said latch memberand gravity actuated drive means operatively connected to said arm forrotating the latter upon release of said latch member.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch member comprisesa ramp pivotally mounted on said base for pivotal movement insubstantially the same plane as said arm, said ramp and said arm havingopposed cooperating abutment surfaces located to normally contact eachother when said retaining means is at said lower level to preventrotation of said arm, said ramp pivoting away from said retaining meanswhen an object thereon is adjacent said retaining means, thereby torelease engagement of said abutment surfaces to permit rotation of saidarrn under the influence of said gravity actuated drive means.

4. A device for raising an object from a first level to a second higherlevel comprising, a base, a vertically extending support operativelyconnected to said base, an arm, means for rotatably mounting said arm onsaid base for rotary movement in a vertical plane, means on said arm forengaging an object at said first level and for retaining the object onsaid arm during movement of said engaging and retaining means with saidarm from said first level adjacent said base, to a second higher levelsubstantially diametrically opposite to said first level, means normallybiasing said arm in rotation, and latch means adjacent said base adaptedto cooperate with said arm when said engaging and retaining means is atsaid first level to prevent rotation of said arm under the influence ofsaid biasing means, said latch means being responsive to the presence ofan object at said first level for releasing said arm whereby saidengaging and retaining means engages said object and retains it as saidarm is rotated, thereby lifting said object to said second level.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 including means at said second levelfor discharging an object moved thereto by said arm means from saiddevice.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein said dischargek meanscomprises a ramp extending downwardly from said second level.

7. A device for converting the potential energy of a first object intokinetic energy in a second object comprising, a base, a verticallyextending support mounted on said base, an arm member, means forrotatably mounting said arm member on said support for rotationalmovement through at least one 360 arc, said arm member includingcarriage means for supporting a second object during rotation of saidarm member thereby to transport said second object from a positionadjacent said base to a higher position along said vertically extendingsupport, and means for rotating said arm member through a 360 arcincluding a first weighted object and means operatively connecting saidfirst object to said arm member for rotating the latter through said atleast one 360 arc as said first object moves downwardly under theinfluence of gravity, and a ramp extending downwardly from said higherposition towards said base whereby as said arm member is rotated by saidfirst object, said second object is raised from its position adjacentsaid base to said higher position wherein it is discharged from saiddevice along said ramp and potential energy of said first object isconverted to kinetic energy in said second object.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 including latching means for holdingsaid arm in a fixed position against the bias of said rotating meanswhen said carriage means is adjacent said base, said latching meansbeing responsive to the presence of said second object thereon adjacentsaid carriage means to release said arm and permit rotation thereof tolift said second object to said higher level.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 including metering means forsupplying second objects to said latching means, and means for actuatingsaid metering means in response to the approach of said carriage meansadjacent said base and said latching means.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotating meanscomprises an arbor rigidly connected to said arm member at the axis ofrotation thereof, a flexible connector secured at one end to said arborand at its opposite end to said first object, and a pulley freelyrotatably mounted on said support member above the axis of rotation ofsaid arm member, said connector being guided over said pulleyintermediate its ends and being adapted to be wound on and unwound fromsaid arbor whereby upon rotation of said arm member in a first directionsaid connector is wound on said arbor and, upon release of said latchingmeans, said first object moves downwardly under the influence of gravityto unwind said connector from said arbor and thereby rotate said annmember in a direction opposite to said first direction.

ll. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said arm member isrotatably mounted intermediate its ends and has one said carriage meansmounted at each end thereof for respective cooperation with saidlatching means adjacent said base.

l2. The device as defined in claim ll wherein said latching meansincludes a second ramp having first and second end portions and beingpivotally mounted on said base intermediate said end portions forpivotal movement in substantially the same plane as said arm member,with said first end portion thereof being located adjacent said meteringmeans and said second end portion thereof being located in positionadjacent the path of travel of said carriage means, said second ramp andsaid carriage means having opposed cooperating abutment surfaces locatedto normally contact each other when said carriage means are adjacent tothe second end portion of said second ramp, and means normallymaintaining said second ramp at an incline between the first and secondend portions thereof, whereby when a second object is supplied to saidsecond ramp it moves down said second ramp towards said second endportion, causing said second end portion to pivot downwardly withrespect to said arm member, thereby releasing the engagement of saidabutment surfaces on said second ramp and carriage member to permitrotation of said arm member under the influence of said rotating means.

13. The device as defined in claim l2 wherein said second ramp has arecessed track therein adjacent said second end portion and saidcarriage means each have a finger portion received in said track whenthe abutment surfaces on the second ramp and said carriage means are incontact with each other whereby, upon pivoting of said second ramp, thesecond object thereon is engaged by said finger and lifted thereby formovement with said carriage means upon rotation of said arm member.

14. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein said metering meansincludes means for storing a plurality of said second objects and havinga second object discharge end through which only a single second objectmay pass, a metering gate pivotally mounted on said base for movementbetween a first position adjacent said discharge end and a secondposition adjacent said second ramp, said metering gate having anaperture therein through which a second object passes from saiddischarge end when said gate is in said first position and a wallportion preventing passage of a second object from said discharge endwhen said gate is in said second position, and second latching means fornormally maintaining said gate in said second position and for releasingsaid gate in response to the approach of said carriage means adjacentsaid base and said first latching means whereby said gate pivots fromsaid second position to said second position to permit passage of afirst object therethrough to said first mentioned latching means.

l5. The device as defined in claim 14 wherein said second latching meanscomprises a-,pivotally mounted latch arm having a support platformformed thereon for supporting said gate in said second position andhaving its center of gravity located to bias said latch arm towards saidgate for supporting engagement of said support platform with said gate,said latch arm and said carriage means having cam surfaces formedthereon for cooperating as said carriage means approaches said base andsaid first mentioned latching means to momentarily pivot said latch armaway from said gate, against the bias of its center of gravity, wherebysaid gate moves from its second to its first position to pennit a secondobject to pass through said aperture to said first mentioned latchingmeans.

16. The device as defined in claim l wherein said aperture and latch armare located in predetermined relative positions, whereby as a secondobject passes through said aperture the weight thereof causes said gateto pivot from its first to its second position, wherein said latch armpivots towards said gate under the bias of its center of gravity tosupport and maintain said gate in said second position.

l7. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said second objectscomprise balls.

18. A device for separately and automatically raising individual toyballs from a first level to a higher level, said device comprising, aball storage station, a ball pickup station, means adjacent said pickupstation for lifting a ball from said pickup station to a higher positionin said device above said pickup station, metering means between saidstorage station and said pickup station for selectively permittingpassage of a ball from said storage station to said pickup station, andmeans for actuating said metering means in response to the presence of aball at said storage station; and means at said pickup station forpreventing operation of said lifting means in the absence of a ball atsaid pickup station.

19. The device as defined in claim 18 including an inclined rampextending downwardly from said higher position for converting thepotential energy of a ball at said higher position to kinetic energy.

20. The device as defined in claim 18 wherein said metering meansincludes a metering gate pivotally mounted in said device for movementbetween first and second positions and having its center of gravitylocated to bias said gate into its first position, said gate having anaperture therein through which an individual ball from said storagestation passes when said gate is in said first position and a wallportion which prevents passage of balls from said storage station whensaid gate is in said second position, latch means for normally engagingand maintaining said gate in said second position, and means forselectively and momentarily releasing said latch means to pennit saidgate to pivot from said second to said first position whereby a ball atsaid storage station enters said gate at said first position and causessaid gate to pivot back to its second position wherein said gate isagain engaged by said latch means and discharges said ball to saidpick-up station.

21. The device as defined in claim 20 wherein said latch means comprisesa pivotally mounted latch arm having a support platform formed thereonfor supporting said gate in said second position and having its centerof gravity located to bias said latch arm towards said gate forsupporting engagement of said support platform with said gate, saidreleasing means being adapted to momentarily pivot said latch arm awayfrom said gate to permit said gate to return to its first position, saidsupport arm thereafter automatically returning to its original positionfor support of said gate under the bias of its center of gravity.

22. A device for separately and automatically raising individual toyballs from a first level to a higher second level therein to producekinetic energy in said balls, said device comprising, a base, a ballstorage station, a ball pickup station at said first level, a verticalsupport member mounted on said base and extending therefrom to saidsecond higher level, a ball discharge ramp extending downwardly fromsaid higher level for converting the potential energy of a ball at saidhigher level into kinetic energy, a transfer arm, means for rotatablymounting said transfer arm on said vertical support member intermediateits ends for rotation in a vertical plane, said transfer arm having apair of ball carriage members respectively located at opposite endsthereof and positioned to pass through said pickup station and adjacentsaid ramp at said higher level during rotation of said arm, meteringmeans located between said storage station and said pickup station forselectively permitting passage of a ball from said storage station tosaid pickup station, and means for actuating said metering means inresponse to the presence of a ball at said storage station and'to thepresence of a carriage member at said pickup station, means for rotatingsaid transfer arm, and means at said pickup station for engaging acarriage member adjacent thereto and preventing rotation of saidtransfer arm in the absence of a ball at said pickup station whereby,when a ball is present at said storage station and a carriage member isengaged with said means for preventing rotation of said transfer arm, aball at said storage station will pass through said metering means tosaid pickup station, enter said carriage member, and be lifted therebyupon rotation of said transfer arm to said higher position whereincontinued rotation of said transfer arm is prevented by engagement ofthe other of said carriage members with said rotation preventing means,said metering means preventing passage of another ball to said pickupstation until the arrival of said other carriage member at said pickupstation.

23. The device as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for preventingrotation of said transfer arm includes a second ramp having first andsecond end portions, and being pivotally mounted on said baseintermediate said end portions for pivotal movement in substantially thesame plane as said transfer arm, with the first end portion thereofbeing located adjacent said metering means and the second end portionthereof being located in position adjacent the path of travel of saidcarriage members, said second ramp and said carriage members havingopposed cooperating abutment surfaces located to contact each other whensaid carriage members respectively enter said pickup station adjacentthe second end portion of said second ramp, and means normallymaintaining said second ramp in a downwardly inclined configurationbetween the first and second end portions thereof with the abutmentsurface of said second ramp in the path of travel of the abutmentsurfaces of said carriage member while permitting rotation of saidsecond ramp in a direction to release engagement between said abutmentsurfaces, whereby when a ball is discharged from said storage stationthrough said metering means, it engages the first end portion of saidsecond ramp and rolls down said second ramp towards the second endportion thereof causing said second ramp to pivot and move said secondend portion downwardly with respect to said transfer arm, therebyreleasing the engagement of said abutment surfaces to permit rotation ofsaid transfer arm.

24. The device as defined in claim 23 wherein said metering meansincludes a metering gate pivotally mounted on said base for movementbetween a first position adjacent said storage station and a secondposition adjacent the first end portion of said second ramp and havingits center of gravity located to bias said gate into its first position,said metering gate having an aperture therein through which a ballpasses from said storage station when said gate is in said firstposition and a wall portion preventing passage of a ball from saidstorage station when said gate is in said second position, and latchmeans, normally maintaining said gate in said second position, forreleasing said gate in response to the approach of one of said carriagemembers adjacent the second end portion of said second ramp whereby saidgate pivots from said second position to said first position to pennitpassage of a ball therethrough onto said second ramp.

25. The device as defined in claim 24 wherein said latch means comprisesa pivotally mounted latch arm having a support platform formed thereonfor supporting said gate in said second position and having its centerof gravity located to bias said latch arm towards said gate in positionfor supporting engagement of said support platform with said gate, saidlatch arm and said carriage members having cooperating cam surfacesformed thereon, said cam surfaces being positioned to engage each otheras a carriage member approaches said second end portion of said ramp tomomentarily pivot said latch arm away from said gate, against thenormal' bias of the center of gravity of the latch arm, whereby saidgate moves from its second position to its first position to permit aball at said storage station to enter said gate and pivot the same toits second position wherein the ball is discharged onto said secondramp.

26. The device as defined in claim 25 wherein said second ramp has arecessed track formed therein adjacent saidvsecond end portion and saidcarriage members each have a finger portion received in said track whenthe abutment surfaces on the second ramp and carriage member are inengagement, whereby, upon rotationvof said ramp as a ball moves from thefirst end portion to the second end portion thereof, the ball engagessaid finger and enters said carriage member to be lifted thereby to saidhigher level upon release and rotation of said transfer ann.

27. The device as defined in claim 26 wherein said means for rotatingsaid transfer arm includes an arbor rigidly connected to said transferarm at the axis of rotation thereof, a flexible connector secured at oneend to said arbor, a weighted object secured to the opposite end of theconnector, land a pulley freely rotatably mounted on said verticalsupport member, above the axis of rotation of said arm member, saidflexible connector being guided over said pulley intermediate its endsand being adapted to be wound on and unwound from said arbor whereby,upon rotation of said transfer arm in a first direction, said connectoris wound on said arbor to raise said weighted object and, upon releaseof said means for preventing rotation, said weight moves downwardlyunder the influence of gravity to unwind said connector from said arborand rotate said transfer arm in a direction opposite to said firstdirection, thereby converting the potential energy of said weightedobject to kinetic energy in said balls.

1. A device for raising an object from a first level to a second higherlevel comprising, a base, a vertically extending support memberoperatively connected to said base, an arm, means rotatably mountingsaid arm on said base for rotational movement in a vertical planethrough at least one complete 360* arc, and means on said arm forengaging an object at said first level and retaining the object thereinduring rotational movement of said retaining means with said arm fromsaid first level adjacent the base to said second higher levelsubstantially diametrically opposite said first level, and meansresponsive to the presence of an object adjacent said first level forselectively rotating said arm through at least a portion of said 360*arc between said first and second levels, whereby said object is raisedfrom said first to said second level.
 2. The device as defined in claim1 wherein said rotating means responsive to the presence of an objectcomprises a latch member operatively associated with said arm at saidfirst level for normally preventing rotation of said arm and beingresponsive to the presence of an object at said first level to releasesaid arm and said latch member and gravity actuated drive meansoperatively connected to said arm for rotating the latter upon releaseof said latch member.
 3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein saidlatch member comprises a ramp pivotally mounted on said base for pivotalmovement in substantially the same plane as said arm, said ramp and saidarm having opposed cooperating abutment surfaces located to normallycontact each other when said retaining means is at said lower level toprevent rotation of said arm, said ramp pivoting away from saidretaining means when an object thereon is adjacent said retaining means,thereby to release engagement of said abutment surfaces to permitrotation of said arm under the influence of said gravity actuated drivemeans.
 4. A device for raising an object from a first level to a secondhigher level comprising, a base, a vertically extending supportoperatively connected to said base, an arm, means for rotatably mountingsaid arm on said base for rotary movement in a vertical plane, means onsaid arm for engaging an object at said first level and for retainingthe object on said arm during movement of said engaging and retainingmeans with said arm from said first level adjacent said base, to asecond higher level substantially diametrically opposite to said firstlevel, means normally biasing said arm in rotation, and latch meansadjacent said base adapted to cooperate with said arm when said engagingand retaining means is at said first level to prevent rotation of saidarm under the influence of said biasing means, said latch means beingresponsive to the presence of an object at said first level forreleasing said arm whereby said engaging and retaining means engagessaid object and retains it as said arm is rotated, thereby lifting saidobject to said second level.
 5. The device as defined in claim 4including means at said second level for discharging an object movedthereto by said arm means from said device.
 6. The device as defined inclaim 5 wherein said discharge means comprises a ramp extendingdownwardly from said second level.
 7. A device for converting thepotential energy of a first object into kinetic energy in a secondobject comprising, a base, a vertically extending support mounted onsaid base, an arm member, means for rotatably mounting said arm memberon said support for rotational movement through at least one 360* arc,said arm member including carriage means for supporting a second objectduring rotation of said arm member thereby to transport said secondobject from a position adjacent said base to a higher position alongsaid vertically extending support, and means for rotating said armmember through a 360* arc including a first weighted object and meansoperatively connecting said first object to said arm member for rotatingthe latter through said at least one 360* arc as said first object movesdownwardly under the influence of gravity, and a ramp extendingdownwardly from said higher position towards said base whereby as saidarm member is rotated by said first object, said seCond object is raisedfrom its position adjacent said base to said higher position wherein itis discharged from said device along said ramp and potential energy ofsaid first object is converted to kinetic energy in said second object.8. The device as defined in claim 7 including latching means for holdingsaid arm in a fixed position against the bias of said rotating meanswhen said carriage means is adjacent said base, said latching meansbeing responsive to the presence of said second object thereon adjacentsaid carriage means to release said arm and permit rotation thereof tolift said second object to said higher level.
 9. The device as definedin claim 8 including metering means for supplying second objects to saidlatching means, and means for actuating said metering means in responseto the approach of said carriage means adjacent said base and saidlatching means.
 10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein saidrotating means comprises an arbor rigidly connected to said arm memberat the axis of rotation thereof, a flexible connector secured at one endto said arbor and at its opposite end to said first object, and a pulleyfreely rotatably mounted on said support member above the axis ofrotation of said arm member, said connector being guided over saidpulley intermediate its ends and being adapted to be wound on andunwound from said arbor whereby upon rotation of said arm member in afirst direction said connector is wound on said arbor and, upon releaseof said latching means, said first object moves downwardly under theinfluence of gravity to unwind said connector from said arbor andthereby rotate said arm member in a direction opposite to said firstdirection.
 11. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said arm memberis rotatably mounted intermediate its ends and has one said carriagemeans mounted at each end thereof for respective cooperation with saidlatching means adjacent said base.
 12. The device as defined in claim 11wherein said latching means includes a second ramp having first andsecond end portions and being pivotally mounted on said baseintermediate said end portions for pivotal movement in substantially thesame plane as said arm member, with said first end portion thereof beinglocated adjacent said metering means and said second end portion thereofbeing located in position adjacent the path of travel of said carriagemeans, said second ramp and said carriage means having opposedcooperating abutment surfaces located to normally contact each otherwhen said carriage means are adjacent to the second end portion of saidsecond ramp, and means normally maintaining said second ramp at anincline between the first and second end portions thereof, whereby whena second object is supplied to said second ramp it moves down saidsecond ramp towards said second end portion, causing said second endportion to pivot downwardly with respect to said arm member, therebyreleasing the engagement of said abutment surfaces on said second rampand carriage member to permit rotation of said arm member under theinfluence of said rotating means.
 13. The device as defined in claim 12wherein said second ramp has a recessed track therein adjacent saidsecond end portion and said carriage means each have a finger portionreceived in said track when the abutment surfaces on the second ramp andsaid carriage means are in contact with each other whereby, uponpivoting of said second ramp, the second object thereon is engaged bysaid finger and lifted thereby for movement with said carriage meansupon rotation of said arm member.
 14. The device as defined in claim 13wherein said metering means includes means for storing a plurality ofsaid second objects and having a second object discharge end throughwhich only a single second object may pass, a metering gate pivotallymounted on said base for movement between a first position adjacent saiddischarge end and a second position adjacent said second ramp, saidmetering gate having an aperture tHerein through which a second objectpasses from said discharge end when said gate is in said first positionand a wall portion preventing passage of a second object from saiddischarge end when said gate is in said second position, and secondlatching means for normally maintaining said gate in said secondposition and for releasing said gate in response to the approach of saidcarriage means adjacent said base and said first latching means wherebysaid gate pivots from said second position to said second position topermit passage of a first object therethrough to said first mentionedlatching means.
 15. The device as defined in claim 14 wherein saidsecond latching means comprises a pivotally mounted latch arm having asupport platform formed thereon for supporting said gate in said secondposition and having its center of gravity located to bias said latch armtowards said gate for supporting engagement of said support platformwith said gate, said latch arm and said carriage means having camsurfaces formed thereon for cooperating as said carriage meansapproaches said base and said first mentioned latching means tomomentarily pivot said latch arm away from said gate, against the biasof its center of gravity, whereby said gate moves from its second to itsfirst position to permit a second object to pass through said apertureto said first mentioned latching means.
 16. The device as defined inclaim 15 wherein said aperture and latch arm are located inpredetermined relative positions, whereby as a second object passesthrough said aperture the weight thereof causes said gate to pivot fromits first to its second position, wherein said latch arm pivots towardssaid gate under the bias of its center of gravity to support andmaintain said gate in said second position.
 17. The device as defined inclaim 9 wherein said second objects comprise balls.
 18. A device forseparately and automatically raising individual toy balls from a firstlevel to a higher level, said device comprising, a ball storage station,a ball pickup station, means adjacent said pickup station for lifting aball from said pickup station to a higher position in said device abovesaid pickup station, metering means between said storage station andsaid pickup station for selectively permitting passage of a ball fromsaid storage station to said pickup station, and means for actuatingsaid metering means in response to the presence of a ball at saidstorage station; and means at said pickup station for preventingoperation of said lifting means in the absence of a ball at said pickupstation.
 19. The device as defined in claim 18 including an inclinedramp extending downwardly from said higher position for converting thepotential energy of a ball at said higher position to kinetic energy.20. The device as defined in claim 18 wherein said metering meansincludes a metering gate pivotally mounted in said device for movementbetween first and second positions and having its center of gravitylocated to bias said gate into its first position, said gate having anaperture therein through which an individual ball from said storagestation passes when said gate is in said first position and a wallportion which prevents passage of balls from said storage station whensaid gate is in said second position, latch means for normally engagingand maintaining said gate in said second position, and means forselectively and momentarily releasing said latch means to permit saidgate to pivot from said second to said first position whereby a ball atsaid storage station enters said gate at said first position and causessaid gate to pivot back to its second position wherein said gate isagain engaged by said latch means and discharges said ball to saidpick-up station.
 21. The device as defined in claim 20 wherein saidlatch means comprises a pivotally mounted latch arm having a supportplatform formed thereon for supporting said gate in said second positionand having its center of gravity locateD to bias said latch arm towardssaid gate for supporting engagement of said support platform with saidgate, said releasing means being adapted to momentarily pivot said latcharm away from said gate to permit said gate to return to its firstposition, said support arm thereafter automatically returning to itsoriginal position for support of said gate under the bias of its centerof gravity.
 22. A device for separately and automatically raisingindividual toy balls from a first level to a higher second level thereinto produce kinetic energy in said balls, said device comprising, a base,a ball storage station, a ball pickup station at said first level, avertical support member mounted on said base and extending therefrom tosaid second higher level, a ball discharge ramp extending downwardlyfrom said higher level for converting the potential energy of a ball atsaid higher level into kinetic energy, a transfer arm, means forrotatably mounting said transfer arm on said vertical support memberintermediate its ends for rotation in a vertical plane, said transferarm having a pair of ball carriage members respectively located atopposite ends thereof and positioned to pass through said pickup stationand adjacent said ramp at said higher level during rotation of said arm,metering means located between said storage station and said pickupstation for selectively permitting passage of a ball from said storagestation to said pickup station, and means for actuating said meteringmeans in response to the presence of a ball at said storage station andto the presence of a carriage member at said pickup station, means forrotating said transfer arm, and means at said pickup station forengaging a carriage member adjacent thereto and preventing rotation ofsaid transfer arm in the absence of a ball at said pickup stationwhereby, when a ball is present at said storage station and a carriagemember is engaged with said means for preventing rotation of saidtransfer arm, a ball at said storage station will pass through saidmetering means to said pickup station, enter said carriage member, andbe lifted thereby upon rotation of said transfer arm to said higherposition wherein continued rotation of said transfer arm is prevented byengagement of the other of said carriage members with said rotationpreventing means, said metering means preventing passage of another ballto said pickup station until the arrival of said other carriage memberat said pickup station.
 23. The device as defined in claim 22 whereinsaid means for preventing rotation of said transfer arm includes asecond ramp having first and second end portions, and being pivotallymounted on said base intermediate said end portions for pivotal movementin substantially the same plane as said transfer arm, with the first endportion thereof being located adjacent said metering means and thesecond end portion thereof being located in position adjacent the pathof travel of said carriage members, said second ramp and said carriagemembers having opposed cooperating abutment surfaces located to contacteach other when said carriage members respectively enter said pickupstation adjacent the second end portion of said second ramp, and meansnormally maintaining said second ramp in a downwardly inclinedconfiguration between the first and second end portions thereof with theabutment surface of said second ramp in the path of travel of theabutment surfaces of said carriage member while permitting rotation ofsaid second ramp in a direction to release engagement between saidabutment surfaces, whereby when a ball is discharged from said storagestation through said metering means, it engages the first end portion ofsaid second ramp and rolls down said second ramp towards the second endportion thereof causing said second ramp to pivot and move said secondend portion downwardly with respect to said transfer arm, therebyreleasing the engagement of said abutment surfaces to permit rotation ofsaid transfer arm.
 24. The dEvice as defined in claim 23 wherein saidmetering means includes a metering gate pivotally mounted on said basefor movement between a first position adjacent said storage station anda second position adjacent the first end portion of said second ramp andhaving its center of gravity located to bias said gate into its firstposition, said metering gate having an aperture therein through which aball passes from said storage station when said gate is in said firstposition and a wall portion preventing passage of a ball from saidstorage station when said gate is in said second position, and latchmeans, normally maintaining said gate in said second position, forreleasing said gate in response to the approach of one of said carriagemembers adjacent the second end portion of said second ramp whereby saidgate pivots from said second position to said first position to permitpassage of a ball therethrough onto said second ramp.
 25. The device asdefined in claim 24 wherein said latch means comprises a pivotallymounted latch arm having a support platform formed thereon forsupporting said gate in said second position and having its center ofgravity located to bias said latch arm towards said gate in position forsupporting engagement of said support platform with said gate, saidlatch arm and said carriage members having cooperating cam surfacesformed thereon, said cam surfaces being positioned to engage each otheras a carriage member approaches said second end portion of said ramp tomomentarily pivot said latch arm away from said gate, against the normalbias of the center of gravity of the latch arm, whereby said gate movesfrom its second position to its first position to permit a ball at saidstorage station to enter said gate and pivot the same to its secondposition wherein the ball is discharged onto said second ramp.
 26. Thedevice as defined in claim 25 wherein said second ramp has a recessedtrack formed therein adjacent said second end portion and said carriagemembers each have a finger portion received in said track when theabutment surfaces on the second ramp and carriage member are inengagement, whereby, upon rotation of said ramp as a ball moves from thefirst end portion to the second end portion thereof, the ball engagessaid finger and enters said carriage member to be lifted thereby to saidhigher level upon release and rotation of said transfer arm.
 27. Thedevice as defined in claim 26 wherein said means for rotating saidtransfer arm includes an arbor rigidly connected to said transfer arm atthe axis of rotation thereof, a flexible connector secured at one end tosaid arbor, a weighted object secured to the opposite end of theconnector, and a pulley freely rotatably mounted on said verticalsupport member, above the axis of rotation of said arm member, saidflexible connector being guided over said pulley intermediate its endsand being adapted to be wound on and unwound from said arbor whereby,upon rotation of said transfer arm in a first direction, said connectoris wound on said arbor to raise said weighted object and, upon releaseof said means for preventing rotation, said weight moves downwardlyunder the influence of gravity to unwind said connector from said arborand rotate said transfer arm in a direction opposite to said firstdirection, thereby converting the potential energy of said weightedobject to kinetic energy in said balls.